Villanova's Jay Wright Expects Omari Spellman Resolution by Early October

MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- Villanova head coach Jay Wright expects a resolution on the Omari Spellman situation by early October.

"We're in the appeal process so he's cleared to be on scholarship, cleared to practice," Wright told me Friday morning at Montclair Immaculate High School where the GardenStateHoops.com Coaches Clinic benefitted the Paterson Girls Basketball League. "The competition part of it, we're waiting. By early October the latest, we should have an answer on whether he can play in games this year."

Reigning NCAA champion Villanova announced last month that they were working with the NCAA to complete the eligibility certification process for the 6-foot-9, 268-pound Spellman, who was expected to be one of the top freshmen in the nation. He was not eligible for the team's trip to Spain last month.

Villanova's Spellman Not Eligible for Spain Trip

Villanova announced Monday that they are currently working with the NCAA to complete the eligibility certification process for freshman forward Omari Spellman, a North Royalton, Ohio native who finished up his prep career at St. Thomas More (CT).

"Spellman is presently on athletic scholarship at Villanova and has been cleared to practice with the Wildcats, but is not yet eligible to compete in games," the school statement read. "The process to certify his eligibility to compete in games is on-going and, as a result, Spellman will accompany the team but not play during the Wildcats' three-game summer exhibition tour in Spain, which opens on Friday."

In a best-case scenario for Villanova, the 6-foot-9, 268-pound Spellman will get things worked out with the NCAA and play this season. In a worst-case scenario, he would end up being ineligible and essentially have to redshirt.

Eli Brooks Adds Villanova Over, Will Weigh Options

Eli Brooks picked up an offer from his "dream school" of Villanova, but plans to weigh his options going forward.

"I could see myself there but I'm going to sit down and think about it," the 6-foot-1 Class of 2017 point guard from Spring Grove (Pa.) High School and the Jersey Shore Warriors AAU program told SNY.tv on Monday.

Asked if he will visit again, Brooks said, "Possibly, I have already been on campus and played with the guys."

Obama Congratulates Villanova for Winning NCAA Championship

By Kevin Freking / AP | May 31, 2016 | 6:46PM

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama congratulated the Villanova University men's basketball team Tuesday for winning what he described as "maybe the best title game of all time" in this year's NCAA tournament.

Forward Kris Jenkins provided the winning shot with a 3-point field goal as time expired. Jenkins did so just a few seconds after North Carolina had managed to tie the game with a remarkable shot as well.

Obama, a basketball enthusiast, welcomed the Wildcats to the White House East Room. He singled out several Wildcats and their coach, Jay Wright.

Josh Hart has withdrawn from the NBA Draft and will return to Villanova for his senior season.

"I enjoyed the process and learned a lot," Hart said in a statement. "It was definitely worthwhile. I look forward to graduating next year and coming back to play with my teammates."

The return of Hart means the Wildcats will welcome back a trio of starters from their national championship unit as Hart lines up with classmate Kris Jenkins and guard Jalen Brunson. The Wildcats must replace senior captains Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu but have a number of other key parts of the lineup set to return in Phil Booth, Darryl Reynolds, and Mikal Bridges.

CHICAGO -- Of the more than 60 players here at the NBA Draft Combine, Villanova junior Josh Hart seems about as likely a candidate as anyone to return to campus next season.

Hart, who measured here at 6-foot-5 1/2 with shoes, has yet to hire an agent and can still pull his name out of the Draft by May 25. The junior is projected as the No. 43 pick in 2017 by DraftExpress.com.

Villanova Lands Junior Big Man Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree

The newly-minted national champions landed a big man in the Class of 2017 on Friday night when Dhamir-Cosby Roundtree of Neumann-Goretti High School committed to Villanova following a visit Thursday night.

"They showed me that the school will be a home away from home for me," he told Philly.com. "And I love the coaching staff."

The 6-foot-9 center who runs with Team Final also considered Syracuse, Miami, Xavier, Temple, Providence, St. Joe's, Seton Hall and VCU.

Seton Hall's Powell, Villanova's Painter Excel in Jordan Regional

By Chris Cirillo | Apr 16, 2016 | 9:39AM

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NEW YORK -- Seton Hall signee Myles Powell scored 17 points on 7-of-21 shooting from the floor, as Team East lost to Team New York 148-128 at the Jordan Brand Classic Regional Game at the Barclays Center Friday night. The sharpshooter was 3-of-14 from behind the arc.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Powell is still working his back into shape after re-injuring the left foot he broke in October. He re-injured it in February.

Powell will join a talented core of juniors - Khadeen Carrington, Desi Rodriguez, Angel Delgado and potentially Isaiah Whitehead - that won the Big East Tournament by defeating Villanova, the eventual national champions.

Trevon Duval Wows Coaches at Under Armour event

By Dennis Chambers | Apr 16, 2016 | 9:26AM

NEW YORK -- On Friday night in Brooklyn, a gym full of spectators and the country's top college coaches crowded around Trevon Duval in the Under Armour Association event at Basketball City.

The class of 2017 ESPN top-ranked point guard did not disappoint.

Duval went off for 24 points - showing some serious range on a few three point buckets - while dishing out four assists and grabbing four rebounds as his team We-R1 defeated Team Beast Mode 71-50. As good as advertised, Duval displayed a bevy of quick handle moves and crossovers that left his defenders grasping at air.

With a stockpile of pizzas and drinks on hand, Omari Spellman and his St. Thomas More (CT) teammates gathered together in the basement of the school gym to watch Monday's NCAA championship game on a big-screen TV.

"I jumped up, ran around, it was dope," Spellman, who will play in the Jordan Brand Classic April 15 at Barclays Center, told SNY.tv on Wednesday by phone. "For a second, I couldn't compute what had just happened because it all happened so fast. Marcus Paige hits the crazy, off-balance shot and then Kris comes down and hits it. It took a second for it to click that Kris really just hit that. After that, I just jumped up and down. I was screaming at the top of my lungs."

"The way the process is set up right now is really helpful to the players and to the coaches because you can really advise them properly," Wright said. "It's set up where they can go through the whole process. The NBA, if they invite them [to the combine], you have a good shot. After you go to the camp, they'll tell you where you are. I just think it's so beneficial to the players."

Kris Jenkins' Three-Pointer at the Buzzer Sends Villanova to First NCAA Championship Since '1985

HOUSTON -- Kris Jenkins' dramatic three-pointer at the buzzer has Villanova celebrating its first NCAA championship since 1985.

With the game against North Carolina tied at 74, Jenkins hit a three from the right side and then raised his arms to the crowd to punctuate a 77-74 victory over the Tar Heels before 74,340 at NRG Stadium.

"I think every shot's going in," Jenkins said. "So every shot I shot today I thought was going in so that was no different."

"He said Rawle wasn't going to come in and just start because guys weren't leaving," Arbitello, who has known Wright for many years, told SNY.tv by phone from New York. "Jay was just being honest, unlike a lot of college guys."

Villanova Destroys Oklahoma to Reach First NCAA Championship Game Since 1985

Josh Hart went for 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists as Villanova destroyed Oklahoma, 95-51, in the national semifinals. (Bob Donnan)

HOUSTON -- The Villanova Wildcats cruised into their first NCAA championship game since 1985 in record fashion.

Josh Hart went for a game-high 23 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists and six players reached double-figures in scoring as the Big East regular season champion Wildcats destroyed Buddy Hield and Oklahoma, 95-51, before an NRG Stadium crowd of 75,505 -- including including former President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Joe Biden.

It was the largest margin of victory ever in a Final Four game. The game was so lopsided Villanova coach Jay Wright put three walk-ons in for the final minutes.

Amid Sad State of Affairs, Villanova is Philly's Best Hope for a Championship

HOUSTON -- Jay Wright knows all about the pathetic state of the Philadelphia 76ers and so wherever he goes in the City of Brotherly Love, he gets the same message from fans.

"It's a pro town," the Villanova coach said here ahead of Saturday's Final Four game against Oklahoma. "So because of the recent last couple years, they've been saying it all year, everybody's been putting pressure on us saying, Hey, you guys are Philly's hope."

The Sixers have been rebuilding for forever it seems like and haven't won an NBA title since 1983.

Jay Wright Says Half the Big East Was Good Enough to Make the Final Four

HOUSTON -- The Big East put half of its teams into the NCAA Tournament -- and now Jay Wright says half the league was good enough to make the Final Four, too.

"I think we have other teams in our conference this year that were good enough," Wright said here Thursday, two days before Villanova will face Oklahoma in the national semifinals. "I think Providence was good enough. Xavier was good enough. I think Seton Hall was good enough to get here. Butler was good enough to get here. But you got to do it."

Villanova Knocks Out No. 1 Seed Kansas, Returns to Final Four

Mar 26, 2016 | 11:13PM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Villanova players danced and celebrated after pulling off what many thought would be the NCAA Tournament's most difficult task.

Beating Kansas, the No. 1 overall seed, required taking the Jayhawks out of their comfort zone while seizing the opportunities that resulted. The Wildcats did both effectively even though it wasn't always pretty, and their reward is a berth in the Final Four.

Villanova Exorcises Second-Round Demons, Now Shooting for Final Four

NEW YORK -- In the span of one basketball game, Villanova has gone from answering questions about its second-round failures to inquiries about whether it can make a Final Four.

The way the Wildcats looked in an 87-68 demolition of Iowa in a South Region second-round game at Barclays Center certainly makes it seem like they can now advance to their first Final Four since 2009.

Next up is Miami in the Sweet 16 on Thursday in Louisville, and then potentially overall No. 1 seed Kansas in the Elite Eight.

Jay Wright on the Sweet 16: 'If we don't do it, it's failure'

NEW YORK -- Jay Wright was hoping for a Philadelphia Big 5 matchup in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

That would have pitted Villanova against Temple in a second-round game in the South Region with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.

"We all take great pride in Philadelphia basketball," Wright said after No. 2 Villanova routed No. 15 UNC Asheville 86-56 at Barclays Center. "I'd like to see Temple win this game, but then I'd have to play against them, and I really don't enjoy that, to be honest."

NEW YORK - Villanova University could advance to the Final Four without ever getting on an airplane.

Should the Wildcats win the Big East Tournament on Saturday, it would likely be the No. 1 seed in the East Region, playing two games at Barclays Center in Brooklyn before heading to the East Regional, which is coincidentally being played at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Thursday afternoon's 81-67 Big East Tournament quarterfinal win over Georgetown was another step towards securing that No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday, but the way coach Jay Wright tells it, his team isn't looking ahead to the NCAA Tournament, or even to Sunday.

Big East Tournament Bracket Set; Villanova is Top Seed

Villanova is the No. 1 seed in the 2016 Big East Tournament March 9-12 at Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats won their third straight Big East regular-season title by compiling a 16-2 league mark. Villanova is 27-4 overall.

Xavier is the No. 2 seed after finishing in second place with a 14-4 mark. The Musketeers are 25-4 overall. In this week's national polls, Villanova is ranked second in the USA Today poll and third in the Associated Press poll. Xavier is fifth in both polls.

The two teams met in last year's Big East championship game with Villanova winning 69-52.

No. 1 Villanova falls to No. 5 Xavier, 90-83

Feb 24, 2016 | 9:46PM

J.P. Macura got Xavier rolling with 19 points off the bench, and freshman point guard Edmond Sumner had 19 points and nine assists as fifth-ranked Xavier got the win that had eluded it, knocking off top-ranked Villanova 90-83 on Wednesday night.

The Musketeers (25-3, 13-3) led most of the way in the first matchup of Top 5 teams since the Big East was reconfigured, pulling away at the end against the only team they'd never beaten in league play.

Villanova (24-4, 13-2) was the first No. 1 team to play in the Cintas Center, which opened for the 2000-01 season. The Wildcats couldn't overcome foul trouble or Xavier's balance, losing for only the second time in their last 18 games. >> Read more

For the first time in program history, the Villanova Wildcats occupy the No. 1 spot in both national polls.

The Wildcats were voted No. 1 in the Associated Press rankings for the first time in program history on Monday. The USA Today Coaches poll voters also listed VU as America's No. 1 team for the week of Feb. 8. This marks the second time Villanova has stood atop the USA Today poll - the other took place in April 1985 after the 'Cats upended Georgetown to earn the NCAA title.

Villanova, which improved to 20-3 overall with its 72-60 victory at then No. 11 Providence Saturday, had been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AP poll on six occasions previously, the most recent of those coming last March after the Wildcats captured the Big East Tournament championship to improve to 32-2.

Alkins, Tucker Sit Courtside for St. John's Loss to Villanova

By Chris Barca | Jan 31, 2016 | 4:16PM

John McEnroe sat courtside for the Villanova-St. John's game, as did Yankees GM Brian Cashman and several recruits, including Rawle Alkins and Jordan Tucker. (Anthony Gruppuso / USA Today Sports)

NEW YORK --- Word of God (N.C.) senior guard Rawle Alkins and Archbishop Stepinac junior wing Jordan Tucker would potentially have been the two best scorers on the floor for St. John's on Sunday against Villanova.

With Alkins, Tucker and a handful of other notable prospects sitting courtside -- as well as tennis legend John McEnroe and Yankees GM Brian Cashman -- the Red Storm were thrashed by the No. 6 Wildcats, 68-53, at Madison Square Garden, extending the St. John's losing streak to 12 games.

"As a collective group, we know we played good but it's just being consistent," Red Storm redshirt junior Christian Jones said. "To bring that into the second half."

Kevin Huerter Enjoys Villanova Visit, Plans to Take All 5

Kevin Huerter, a 6-foot-6 2016 point?guard from?Clifton Park (N.Y.)?Shenendehowa,?enjoyed his official visit to Villanova this week but still plans on taking all five of his official visits before deciding.

Huerter is set to visit?Maryland (Sept. 4-6), Michigan (Sept. 12-14) and Notre Dame Sept. (24-26), and is also considering Iowa, Indiana, Creighton and Davidson.

Eric Paschall Officially Joins Villanova

Eric Paschall, a 6-6 forward who earned Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year honors at Fordham University in 2014-15, has officially transferred to Villanova and is enrolled in the University?s summer session. Paschall, a native of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., retains three seasons of eligibility beginning with the 2016-17 season.

Paschall averaged 15.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Rams as a rookie. In addition to his Atlantic 10 honor, Paschall shared the Met Basketball Rookie of the Year award with Seton Hall?s Angel Delgado. While with the Rams, he was coached by Tom Pecora, who served on the staff of Villanova head coach Jay Wright at Hofstra from 1994-2001.

Jay Wright Believes Villanova Could Beat Kentucky, But Lose to Anyone

By Josh Newman | Mar 14, 2015 | 11:45PM

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By JOSH NEWMAN

NEW YORK - It has seemed clear for a long time now that any team thinking it can win a national championship better plan on going through unbeaten Kentucky.

That includes Villanova, which moved to the doorstep of a No. 1 seed on Saturday when it won the Big East Tournament, 69-52 over Xavier in front 13,471 at Madison Square Garden. The Wildcats are 32-2, veteran-heavy, well-coached and appear set to take on all comers beginning next weekend. The question is, can they beat anyone, including possibly Kentucky down the road?

By Josh Newman | Mar 13, 2015 | 10:19PM

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By JOSH NEWMAN

NEW YORK -?Villanova head coach Jay Wright does not fancy himself a 'Bracketologist,' but if the Wildcats win the Big East Tournament against Xavier on Saturday night, he knows exactly where they should be seeded.

"Honestly, I don't know enough about it, I really don't," Wright said Friday night after top-seeded Villanova outlasted No. 4 seed Providence, 63-61, Friday night in one semifinal. "I don't follow it and I couldn't give you an honest answer."

Villanova's Darrun Hilliard The Favorite for Big East Player of the Year

NEW YORK -- With only a handful of games left in the regular season, Villanova senior guard Darrun Hilliard appears to be a virtual lock for Big East Player of the Year honors.

In an informal poll of Big East head coaches, more than half told SNY.tv that the 6-foot-6 guard would get their vote. Providence's Kris Dunn, Providence's LaDontae Henton and Villanova's Ryan Arcidiacono each garnered at least one vote. (Villanova coach Jay Wright cannot vote for his own player.)

The Player of the Year traditionally goes to the best player on the best team and Hilliard fits that description perfectly. He's averaging 14.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists for a Villanova team that is 26-2 overall, 13-2 in the Big East and would be a No. 2 seed if the NCAA Tournament started today, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi.

Villanova's Darrun Hilliard Named ZAGSBLOG National Player of the Week

Villanova senior guard Darrun Hilliard has been named the ZAGSBLOG National Player of the Week.

On Saturday, the 6-foot-6 guard had arguably his best game of his career. Hilliard scored 31 points while connecting on 8 three-pointers. When the game the came down to the wire, the senior delivered a trey?with 1.5 seconds left in the contest to give Villanova a 68-65 victory at No. 18 Butler.

By Josh Newman | Dec 9, 2014 | 10:13PM

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By JOSH NEWMAN

NEW YORK -?Seventh-ranked Villanova may be 9-0 following a 73-59 win over Illinois at the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday evening, but that mark has not come easily.

The Wildcats had a tough time against Bucknell on Nov. 20 in a 72-65 win, trailed Michigan by eight in the second half on Nov. 25 before charging back for a five-point win and were tied at 50 on Tuesday with the FIghting Illini with 8:32 to play before veteran-savvy took over down the stretch.

NEW YORK -- JayVaughn Pinkston was actually in the wrong place on the epic?block that helped insure Villanova would enjoy a happy Thanksgiving.

"I?kind of messed up on the play," the Brooklyn native explained. "I didn't take away the middle, so I just tried to make a play on the ball. I saw somebody fell and I just went up and made the block."

In his return to Brooklyn, the 6-foot-7 redshirt senior forward went for 15 points and seven rebounds as No. 12 Villanova handled No. 14 VCU, 77-53, in the?semifinals of the Legends Classic at Barclays Center.

Villanova's Jay Wright Meets With Rawle Alkins, Pitino Due in Soon

Villanova head coach Jay Wright and assistant Kyle Neptune met Tuesday with 2016 Christ the King guard Rawle Alkins, and Louisville coach Rick Pitino is due in soon.

"[Wright] was just telling me about the school and how much they want me, saying how they set players up with a life after basketball and it's a family down there, not just a team," the 6-foot-5 Alkins told SNY.tv.

"He showed me the style of play they play and how it's kind of unique, a 4-guard offense, a lot of uptempo and pick-and -rolls."